Hogg picked for Commonwealth Games

Stuart Hogg has been named in the Scotland Sevens squad to compete at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Stuart Hogg has been named in the Scotland Sevens squad to compete at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Scottish Rugby and Commonwealth Games Scotland can confirm Scotland's 24 times capped full-back and British and Irish Lion will replace Tommy Seymour.

Seymour sustained a neck injury during the Scotland June tour that will rule him out of the Games, however he will return to the care of Glasgow Warriors to recover and prepare for the new season.

"It is disappointing to lose Tommy, however I'm delighted to be able to bring in a player of Stuart Hogg's calibre into our Commonwealth Games squad and would like to thank Team Scotland, Scottish Rugby and Glasgow Warriors in helping make this selection happen," said Scotland Sevens head coach, Stephen Gemmell.

Hogg, who plays his club rugby with Glasgow Warriors, won his four most recent Scotland caps, in each game, of the recently concluded tour to America, Canada, Argentina and South Africa. He scored two of his six international tries against USA and Argentina in June.

Though he has not won any caps with the abbreviated national team, the short game is a code he is familiar with having grown up in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, where he played on the Kings of the Sevens circuit.

Also, in his professional career, in XVs, he has shown skills that are suited to the short game.

"Stuart is somebody who has shown at every level of his XVs career what he is capable of. He is a player who excites fans and he has shown time and time again he can contribute significantly in both attack and defence," said Gemmill.

"Though he has not yet played international sevens he comes from a background in the Borders that has been heavily influenced by the abbreviated game. His game understanding along with the skills he has developed as a professional will I am sure prove a strong addition to our existing playing group.

"I'm excited about him joining the squad and contributing to a successful performance at Ibrox."

Scotland Sevens will compete in Sevens and the City at Allianz Park in Hendon, North London on Saturday 12 July. This will be their last competitive tournament before they take to the field at Ibrox Stadium at the Commonwealth Games.